Xavier University Athletics
Friday, January 27
South Orange, N.J.
7 p.m.
Xavier University
at
Seton Hall
Musketeers Open Second Half of BIG EAST Schedule at Seton Hall
01.25.17 | Women's Basketball
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Walsh Gymnasium
CINCINNATI – Xavier women's basketball opens the second half of its BIG EAST schedule on Friday, Jan. 27 at Seton Hall. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. from Walsh Gymnasium with the game being aired on the BIG EAST Digital Network.
The Musketeers (10-10, 2-7 BIG EAST) have dropped five straight, including two in overtime. Xavier's last win was over Seton Hall, 72-64, on Jan. 4 at Cintas Center.
The Pirates (9-11, 2-7 BIG EAST) are coming off a 70-60 overtime loss to Creighton on Jan. 22. Seton Hall has lost seven of its last eight games and has an 8-4 mark in home games.
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (10-10, 2-7) at SETON HALL (9-11, 2-7)
Game Info: Friday, Jan. 27 - 7 p.m. ET - Walsh Gymnasium (1,655)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2jqF7Pv
Live Video: http://bit.ly/2jmKv2L
Live Audio: http://bit.ly/2k1ilOY
2016-17 Record: 9-11 (2-7 BIG EAST)
Series History: Xavier trails, 6-1
NOTABLES
• Seton Hall leads the BIG EAST in steals (10.4), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.3). The Pirates also ranks fourth in scoring offense (65.9) and 10th in scoring defense (71.7).
• JaQuan Jackson ranks fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game. Lubirdia Gordon leads the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.598), while ranking second in blocks (1.8).
• Three of the top five players in the BIG EAST in steals are from Seton Hall: JaQuan Jackson (2nd – 2.1), Kaela Hilaire (4th – 2.0) and LaTecia Smith (5th – 1.9).
• Xavier trails the all-time series, 6-1. The win over the Pirates earlier this season marked the first win in the series for the Musketeers.
• Xavier won the first meeting between the two schools this season, 72-64, at Cintas Center on Jan. 4. Raeshaun Gaffney led three players in double figures with a career-high 33 points.
• Raeshaun Gaffney was 12-for-23 from the floor and 4-for-11 from behind the arc. The senior guard was also 5-for-7 from the foul line.
• Kindell Fincher added 12 points, going 4-for-9 from behind the arc. Xavier knocked down nine 3-pointers in the win.
• Xavier fell to Villanova, 72-47, on Jan. 22 at Cintas Center. Marquia Turner led the Musketeers with 11 points, while Anniina Äijänen added nine points and nine rebounds.
• Raeshaun Gaffney leads the team in scoring during BIG EAST play, averaging 16.4 points per game to go along with 4.0 rebounds per game. She has added 10 assists and eight steals.
• Maddison Blackwell has averaged a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game during conference action. The senior forward has added 8.7 points per game and a team-high 15 steals.
• Xavier has made 116 three-pointers this season, eight more than its total from all of last season. The Musketeers are averaging 5.8 three pointers per game, while hitting 33.6 percent of their shots from behind the arc – ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier finished ninth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.276) last season.
• Xavier has shot nearly five percent better in the first half of games this season versus the second half (43.6% vs. 39.0%). The Musketeers have also hit 40.9 percent of their three pointers in the first half compared to a .248 clip in the second half.
• Xavier is 2-5 in road games this season. The Musketeers are averaging 58.9 points per game on the road.
• Raeshaun Gaffney has averaged 14.1 points per game, while knocking down 48 percent (12-for-25) of her three pointers. Maddison Blackwell has added 10 points per game with a .547 field-goal percentage.
• Maddison Blackwell averaged 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games last week. The senior forward added two blocks and two steals.
• Raeshaun Gaffney ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.7 ppg) and 10th in free-throw percentage (.739). The senior guard also ranks sixth in three-point field-goal percentage (.420).
• Raeshaun Gaffney has hit 34 three-pointers this season, 20 more than she posted all of last season. She has drained 42 percent (34-for-81) of her shot attempts from behind the arc.
• Imani Partlow ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.477). Marquia Turner ranks sixth in assists per game (4.0), while Maddison Blackwell ranks eighth in rebounds per game (6.2).
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage defense (.375) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.281), while ranking fifth in scoring defense (62.2).
• The win over Michigan marked the 200th program victory at Cintas Center. Xavier has compiled a 201-70 record since the building opened for the 2000-01 season.
• Leah Schaefer ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.7 bpg), while ranking 10th in rebounding (6.1 rpg). The senior forward has already blocked 28 shots this season, nine more than her total from each of the previous three seasons. She also ranks 96th nationally in blocked shots.
• Leah Schaefer has 87 career blocks to rank fifth all-time at Xavier. The forward has also pulled down 547 career rebounds, 58 rebounds shy of entering the career top-10 in the statistical category.
• Leah Schaefer is also averaging 2.2 more rebounds per game this season than she did a year ago (6.1-3.9). She has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game three times this season, increasing her career double-figure rebounding games to seven.
• Raeshaun Gaffney scored a career-high 33 points on 12-for-23 shooting against Seton Hall. The 33 points are the second most by a BIG EAST player this season and the most by a Xavier player since March 21, 2010 when Amber Harris scored 31 points versus East Tennessee State.
• The Musketeers posted a winning record last season, the 22nd winning record for Xavier since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982-83.
• Xavier returns two starters in seniors Raeshaun Gaffney and Maddison Blackwell. Gaffney led the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.8) last year, while Blackwell added 9.2 points per game in BIG EAST play with a .516 field-goal percentage – the fourth highest in the conference.
• Brian Neal returns to the bench for his fourth season as head coach. Last season, he picked up his 200th career victory as a head coach. He now has a 224-92 in 11 years as a head coach.
• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
• Xavier returns to action against St. John's on Sunday, Jan. 29. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. from Madison Square Garden.
The Musketeers (10-10, 2-7 BIG EAST) have dropped five straight, including two in overtime. Xavier's last win was over Seton Hall, 72-64, on Jan. 4 at Cintas Center.
The Pirates (9-11, 2-7 BIG EAST) are coming off a 70-60 overtime loss to Creighton on Jan. 22. Seton Hall has lost seven of its last eight games and has an 8-4 mark in home games.
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THE MATCHUP VS SETON HALL |
XAVIER MUSKETEERS (10-10, 2-7) at SETON HALL (9-11, 2-7)
Game Info: Friday, Jan. 27 - 7 p.m. ET - Walsh Gymnasium (1,655)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2jqF7Pv
Live Video: http://bit.ly/2jmKv2L
Live Audio: http://bit.ly/2k1ilOY
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ABOUT THE PIRATES |
2016-17 Record: 9-11 (2-7 BIG EAST)Series History: Xavier trails, 6-1
NOTABLES
• Seton Hall leads the BIG EAST in steals (10.4), while ranking second in blocked shots (4.3). The Pirates also ranks fourth in scoring offense (65.9) and 10th in scoring defense (71.7).
• JaQuan Jackson ranks fourth in the conference in scoring, averaging 15.9 points per game. Lubirdia Gordon leads the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.598), while ranking second in blocks (1.8).
• Three of the top five players in the BIG EAST in steals are from Seton Hall: JaQuan Jackson (2nd – 2.1), Kaela Hilaire (4th – 2.0) and LaTecia Smith (5th – 1.9).
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SERIES HISTORY |
• Xavier trails the all-time series, 6-1. The win over the Pirates earlier this season marked the first win in the series for the Musketeers.
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FIRST MEETING VS SETON HALL |
• Xavier won the first meeting between the two schools this season, 72-64, at Cintas Center on Jan. 4. Raeshaun Gaffney led three players in double figures with a career-high 33 points.
• Raeshaun Gaffney was 12-for-23 from the floor and 4-for-11 from behind the arc. The senior guard was also 5-for-7 from the foul line.
• Kindell Fincher added 12 points, going 4-for-9 from behind the arc. Xavier knocked down nine 3-pointers in the win.
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LAST TIME OUT VS VILLANOVA |
• Xavier fell to Villanova, 72-47, on Jan. 22 at Cintas Center. Marquia Turner led the Musketeers with 11 points, while Anniina Äijänen added nine points and nine rebounds.
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BIG EAST STAT LEADERS |
• Raeshaun Gaffney leads the team in scoring during BIG EAST play, averaging 16.4 points per game to go along with 4.0 rebounds per game. She has added 10 assists and eight steals.
• Maddison Blackwell has averaged a team-high 6.9 rebounds per game during conference action. The senior forward has added 8.7 points per game and a team-high 15 steals.
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FROM BEHIND THE ARC |
• Xavier has made 116 three-pointers this season, eight more than its total from all of last season. The Musketeers are averaging 5.8 three pointers per game, while hitting 33.6 percent of their shots from behind the arc – ranking third in the BIG EAST.
• Xavier finished ninth in the BIG EAST in three-point field-goal percentage (.276) last season.
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TALE OF TWO HALVES |
• Xavier has shot nearly five percent better in the first half of games this season versus the second half (43.6% vs. 39.0%). The Musketeers have also hit 40.9 percent of their three pointers in the first half compared to a .248 clip in the second half.
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ON THE ROAD |
• Xavier is 2-5 in road games this season. The Musketeers are averaging 58.9 points per game on the road.
• Raeshaun Gaffney has averaged 14.1 points per game, while knocking down 48 percent (12-for-25) of her three pointers. Maddison Blackwell has added 10 points per game with a .547 field-goal percentage.
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FASTBREAK POINTS |
• Maddison Blackwell averaged 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in two games last week. The senior forward added two blocks and two steals.
• Raeshaun Gaffney ranks fifth in the BIG EAST in scoring (15.7 ppg) and 10th in free-throw percentage (.739). The senior guard also ranks sixth in three-point field-goal percentage (.420).
• Raeshaun Gaffney has hit 34 three-pointers this season, 20 more than she posted all of last season. She has drained 42 percent (34-for-81) of her shot attempts from behind the arc.
• Imani Partlow ranks seventh in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage (.477). Marquia Turner ranks sixth in assists per game (4.0), while Maddison Blackwell ranks eighth in rebounds per game (6.2).
• Xavier ranks second in the BIG EAST in field-goal percentage defense (.375) and three-point field-goal percentage defense (.281), while ranking fifth in scoring defense (62.2).
• The win over Michigan marked the 200th program victory at Cintas Center. Xavier has compiled a 201-70 record since the building opened for the 2000-01 season.
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SCHAEFER'S BREAKOUT SEASON |
• Leah Schaefer ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in blocks (1.7 bpg), while ranking 10th in rebounding (6.1 rpg). The senior forward has already blocked 28 shots this season, nine more than her total from each of the previous three seasons. She also ranks 96th nationally in blocked shots.
• Leah Schaefer has 87 career blocks to rank fifth all-time at Xavier. The forward has also pulled down 547 career rebounds, 58 rebounds shy of entering the career top-10 in the statistical category.
• Leah Schaefer is also averaging 2.2 more rebounds per game this season than she did a year ago (6.1-3.9). She has pulled down 10 or more rebounds in a game three times this season, increasing her career double-figure rebounding games to seven.
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GAFFNEY'S CAREER NIGHT |
• Raeshaun Gaffney scored a career-high 33 points on 12-for-23 shooting against Seton Hall. The 33 points are the second most by a BIG EAST player this season and the most by a Xavier player since March 21, 2010 when Amber Harris scored 31 points versus East Tennessee State.
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ABOUT THE MUSKETEERS |
• The Musketeers posted a winning record last season, the 22nd winning record for Xavier since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1982-83.
• Xavier returns two starters in seniors Raeshaun Gaffney and Maddison Blackwell. Gaffney led the team in scoring (11.1 ppg) and rebounding (4.8) last year, while Blackwell added 9.2 points per game in BIG EAST play with a .516 field-goal percentage – the fourth highest in the conference.
• Brian Neal returns to the bench for his fourth season as head coach. Last season, he picked up his 200th career victory as a head coach. He now has a 224-92 in 11 years as a head coach.
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XU BASKETBALL HISTORY |
• Xavier has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances, most recently advancing to the tournament's second round in 2011.
• The Musketeers' best NCAA Tournament finish was in 2001 and 2010 as XU advanced to the Elite Eight.
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UP NEXT |
• Xavier returns to action against St. John's on Sunday, Jan. 29. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m. from Madison Square Garden.
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